The United Steelworkers (USW) has commended the release of a letter to President Obama that urges swift mobilization of resources in support of the union's Section 301 trade petition against China's alleged use of unfair trade practices to dominate the green technology sector.
‘The American people want a 'green' future,’ says Leo W. Gerard, international president of the USW. ‘They want to expand the usage of alternative and renewable energy. They understand that addressing climate change is important. But Americans want to make sure that our environmental and economic goals are mutually supportive. This trade case can ensure that we really can have a win-win scenario – not only here at home, but in China and around the world.’
The letter was released by Rep. Sandy Levin, D-Mich., chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and signed by 181 members of Congress. Citing the USW's 5,800-page petition, members who signed the letter urged support by the administration for the USW's Section 301 petition filed Sept. 9 under the Trade Act of 1974, requesting prompt action to address the practices underlying the filing.
The congressional letter described the USW's petition as reviewing more than ’80 Chinese laws, regulations and practices that cover a broad spectrum of green technologies, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, nuclear and advanced batteries, which seek to benefit Chinese manufacturers to the detriment of their American competitors.’
‘Through a variety of predatory trade practices, China's industrial policy seeks to give its manufacturers an unfair advantage in the green technology revolution and to capture this emerging sector,’ the letter states. ‘These practices, combined with Chinese currency policy, are already taking a heavy toll on the U.S. green economy and trade practices.’
SOURCE: United Steelworkers
